Saint Nicholas Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas (Catedral de San Nicolás de Bari) in Alicante is one of the city's main architectural and religious landmarks, located in the historic center on Abad Penalva Square. Built between 1616 and 1662 in a late Renaissance style with Baroque elements, it was constructed on the site of an ancient mosque and a 13th-century Christian church dedicated to Alicante’s patron saint, Saint Nicholas. The design was created by Agustín Bernardino, a student of Juan de Herrera, architect of El Escorial, giving the cathedral’s façade a strict, almost monastic simplicity with minimal decoration.

The cathedral’s history is closely tied to that of Alicante: on December 6, 1244, the feast day of Saint Nicholas, the city came under Castilian rule thanks to Infante Alfonso (the future King Alfonso X the Wise), who ordered the construction of the church here, outside the city walls. The original Gothic church was expanded over centuries—its bell tower was added in 1310, and in 1265, King James I of Aragon held a key meeting here to quell a rebellion in Murcia, securing Alicante’s loyalty. The cathedral received its status as a co-cathedral (a shared episcopal seat of the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante) in 1947, though locals and tourists commonly refer to it simply as the cathedral.

Notable features highlight the cathedral’s uniqueness: its massive dome reaches 45 meters in height, the gilded main altar was crafted by Nicolás Borrás in 1574, and the Baroque Chapel of Saint Nicholas was designed by Juan de Villanueva. Relics of saints Felicitas, Roque, and Francis Xavier are kept here, and the 16th-century organ is among the oldest in Spain. The cloister combines Gothic arches, Moorish influences, and even Roman artifacts. Having survived the siege of 1691 and the Spanish Civil War, the cathedral stands as a symbol of enduring faith. Entry is free, though access to the museum and treasury costs around 3–5 euros.